Documentation

Public Sightings

Not a price guide

A record of when Gabus Frères-cased watches, and separately W. Gabus-signed pieces, have appeared publicly at auction. Our records note 16 Gabus-related lots at Antiquorum from 1988–2025; the appearances documented below are sourced and verified for this page.

141

This list documents publicly catalogued appearances. It is not exhaustive. Prices are not listed as they fluctuate and do not reflect current market value.

Rolex Ref. 8206

10 documented appearances · per Lyon & Turnbull, approximately 12 examples known since 1992
DateHouse / Sale / LotMaterialDial Scale
Apr 2024Lyon & Turnbull18K pink goldBASE 1 MILE
Apr 2024Sterling Vault / Easylive18K rose goldBASE 1000
14 May 2006Antiquorum — Geneva, Lot 13118K yellow goldConcentric tachometer
22 May 1995Antiquorum — Milan, Lot 17418K goldSpiral tachometric
18 Jan 1992Antiquorum — Vicenza, Lot 4018K yellow goldSpiral tachometric
18 Jan 1992Antiquorum — Vicenza, Lot 23518K pink goldSpiral tachometric
15 Oct 1989Antiquorum — Geneva, Lot 26318K yellow goldConcentric tachometer
7 Dec 1988Antiquorum — New York, Lot 12618K yellow goldConcentric tachometer
Christie’s — Lot 207760018K yellow goldBlue spiral tachometric
Im Kinsky — Lot 064918K yellow gold

Rolex Ref. 4516

1 documented appearance
DateHouseSale / LotMaterial
Feb 2017BonhamsLot 25918K rose gold

Note: this listing itself does not mention Gabus Frères — the case attribution rests on a separate dealer caseback photograph, documented on the Hammerhead №141 register.

Rolex Ref. 3068

2 documented appearances
DateHouse / Sale / LotMaterialNotes
28 Apr 2019Antiquorum — Hong Kong, Lot 15718K yellow goldCase No. 1 008 594. Catalog cites Swiss patent No. 144 357, delivered to Gabus Frères, Usines Safir.
Christie’s — Lot 616700118K goldCase No. 1’008’593, c. 1937. Caseback stamped 3068, brevet 144’357.

These examples carry the strongest public documentation linking Rolex Ref. 3068 to Gabus Frères patent CH144357.

W. Gabus

2 documented appearances
DateHouse / Sale / LotMaterialNotes
Nov 2025Antiquorum — Geneva14K goldW. Gabus Grand Complication, Le Locle, c. 1910. Minute-repeating, hunting-cased, chronograph, perpetual calendar, moonphase; case no. 23908.
May 2021Antiquorum — Geneva14K goldSame piece as above (case no. 23908), sold previously.

Note: this same auction listing described W. Gabus as Patek Philippe's “official representative in Russia” — a claim the surviving period catalog does not support. See the W. Gabus page for the primary-source account.

Gabus-Guinand

2 documented appearances
DateHouse / Sale / LotMaterialNotes
6 May 2023Cortrie Spezial Auktionen — Hamburg, Lot 232-420814K pink goldGabus-Guinand Chronometer No. 12275, c. 1890. Pivoted-detent chronometer movement; dome signed and inscribed “CHRONOMETRE.”
8 Nov 2014Antiquorum — Geneva, Lot 23314K goldGabus-Guinand Quarter Repeater No. 22591, c. 1890. Retailed by L. Varneron, Genève.

Technical details of the patent are recorded on the Patents page.